]]>It’s no secret that we here at Keepin’ It Country are huge fans of Brandon Chase. We interviewed him long before he was on The Voice and are thrilled to bring you some exciting news! Brandon will release his debut single “One” to country radio on March 4th, but he’ll be world-premiering it on air tomorrow with 99.5 KPLX The Wolf in Dallas. Be sure to listen here at 7:30 am central.

Brandon debuted the single last week at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville to radio stations from across the country with positive response. Additionally, he’ll promote the single at Day Break with Ron Corning on February 28 and Good Morning Texas on March 4th.

“I’m so excited to release the first radio single from my debut album,” says Brandon. “After years of hard work, I’ve finally found my sound. I can’t wait for people to hear it!”

“One” will be available at all digital outlets on March 4th including iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

]]>We first had the opportunity to chat with Brandon Chase last April, long before he caught Blake Shelton‘s eye on The Voice or had legions of loyal “Chasers” eagerly anticipating his every musical move. Since our very first interview, we’ve kept our tabs on Brandon, chatting with him periodically throughout the show, and now, we can’t watch to catch you up on what the future has in store for this Texan talent.

Since leaving The Voice, the ever-humble Brandon admits that his life hasn’t changed all too much. “As soon as The Voice ended, I just kept doing exactly what I was doing beforehand – working on my craft, doing everything I can to create new music and get it out to the fans.” He says, “Through all that, I’m trying to start up a tour to travel around and meet fans in different states and whatnot that haven’t had the chance to see me live. It’s been kind of usual, just working hard and doing what I do, which is music. There’s definitely been some doors that have been opened that might not have been without The Voice being there.”

One of those doors include the opportunity to bring new music to his constantly growing and loyal fan base. He’s currently working on an album, which he describes as “higher quality and just more me,” as well as “ten times better than anything I’ve ever put out.” Brandon admits that he can’t wait for fans to hear the new tunes. “I’m extremely excited. I feel like it meets the standard of where music’s out today and it just gives me hope to be a success on radio and I just hope that people will accept it and receive it.”

As for his sound, don’t expect a rapid departure than what originally endeared Brandon to you. He’ll be sticking to his classic country/pop soun d, with some interesting pop sounds combining with his deep country roots. Fans will get their first taste of new music from Brandon on March 4th, when he releases his first single, aptly titled “One.” “It’s kind of nice and ironic that it’s going to be my first radio single and it’s called ‘One.'”

The track was written by three of Nashville’s heaviest hitters, including Zach Crowell (“Cop Car”), Jaron Boyer and Randy Montana. Brandon admits he was an instant fan of the track. “The first time I heard it, I just loved it and wanted to record it,” Brandon recalls. “Once we got in the studio and started working with it, we just fell in love with it even more and felt like it needed to be the first one out to make a statement that this is the direction of the album and what to expect.”

To get fans involved in the making of his album, Brandon has launched a Kickstarter campaign. There, fans can contribute various amounts of money in return for various gifts from Brandon and a sense of ownership in the album. “I just think it’s cool for people to be able to say, ‘Man I contributed to the album,’ or that they’re listening to it and can feel like ‘If it wasn’t for me, this album wouldn’t have happened.’ I just want people to feel like they’re including in the project and that they have a role in it, and an important role because they do.”

As Brandon works on his album, he’s very aware of his fans who have gotten him this far. “I want people to feel like they’re a part of what I’m doing and I want to keep people in the loop as much as I can, just kind of being with me through the process of everything,” He tells me. “If I didn’t have fans that were going to listen to it, there’d be no point in making the album. I’m making it for the fans and I want people to feel like they’re a part of it.”

As for what the rest of 2014 has in store, Brandon says he hopes to release the album sometime this summer, making sure it’s the best quality possible. Additionally, he’ll be hitting the road on a radio tour once the single is released. He’ll be performing on an acoustic stage at this month’s CRS (Country Radio Seminar), as well as around the Dallas area. From there, he hopes to take his music further and meet the fans who have taken him this far in his journey.

There are big things in store for Brandon this year, and he’s anxiously anticipating his forthcoming releases. “Really, I just can’t wait for everyone to hear the single – I hope you guys are going to like it.”

I’m pretty sure we will.

If you’d like to contribute to Brandon’s Kickstarter campaign, you can do that here. Also make sure to follow him on Twitter @BrandonJChase for more information.

]]>‘S wonderful! ‘S marvelous! That’s what rang through my head as I watched The Swon Brothers tear up the South Florida Fair stage during their “Swoncert” (try saying that … it rolls right off the tongue) in front of a rowdy crowd. After seeing The Swon Brothers live, this much is clear – these boys were born to be on stage.

The Voice Season 4 Finalists, Zach and Colton Swon, spent their show covering songs ranging from country to classic rock to classic country rock. The boys barreled through the starting line with a cover of Randy Houser‘s “How Country Feels” and quickly transitioned into the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band‘s “Fishin’ In the Dark” (much to our amazing photographer friend, Sara Kauss‘, excitement). The guys manifested their uncanny abilities to harmonize with one another without ever making evident that one brother’s vocal prowess is any more superior than the other.

The Brothers Swon continued onward, setting the tone for the rest of the show by explaining that the fans chose their set list using social media. This led into a cover of Darius Rucker‘s “Wagon Wheel,” the opening notes of which were met with thunderous applause and yelps of enthusiasm from the crowd. After receiving an immeasurable amount of audience participation with this song, we were introduced to The Swon Brothers’ merchandise, which includes, but is not limited to, “swoozies” (koozies) and “Swoncert” t-shirts.

The Swonsational siblings also paid tribute to one of their biggest influences, The Eagles. Instead of performing every single song from the iconic group’s catalog, the country rockin’ bros performed “I Can’t Tell You Why,” as well as a medley of “Witchy Woman,” “Lying Eyes,” “Already Gone,” and “Take It To the Limit.”

One of the best moments of the night, in my humble opinion, was the Swontastic cover of The Charlie Daniels Band “Devil Went Down to Georgia” that nixed the fiddle and opted for the electric guitar instead. Additionally, to replace certain lyrics, Zach and Colton broke into Kiss’ “I Wanna Rock & Roll All Night.” The thought that swam through my mind … why isn’t this version of the song available for me to download?

Before giving the crowd the song they had been eagerly anticipating all night (The Swon Brothers’ first single), the Oklahomans performed Merle Haggard’s “Okie From Muskogee.” It is important to note here that the Swons were extremely interactive with the audience, throwing merchandise into the crowd, taking selfies with audience members (a picture of which is provided below), cracking jokes (especially about one another), posing for photos, complimenting their The Voice coach, Blake Shelton, and, during their ode to Oklahoma, even brought a fan on stage. This fan, who introduced herself as Katie, was also present for Cassadee Pope’s recent show, standing up front, singing every song, and having the time of her life. I was thrilled to see this devoted fan get the love she received from the boys. Colton explained that he is trying to replace his brother and that Katie should sing with him so they can accomplish the Tim and Faith thing. Katie did an admirable job singing with Colton, despite her initial hesitancy to take the mic!

Photo by Sara Kauss / www.sarakaussmusicians.com

The Swondrous duo closed their show with their first single, “Later On,” which went to #1 on iTunes within twenty-four hours of its release. The audience jumped to its feet and loudly sang every word of this chart-climbing track. The guys received a standing ovation as they said goodnight, but, in true superstar fashion, they returned to the stage for a brief encore. The talented siblings bid farewell to West Palm Beach with a cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “American Girl.”

Immediately following the show, the down-to-earth duo made it a point to meet and greet every single fan that decided to stay and wait for his/her chance to shake the hands of these party (country) rockin’ guys. The Swon Brothers left behind an impression of appreciation, modesty, dedication, and insane talent, and played a show for South Floridians that will be talked about in the years to come. If I know one thing about The Swon Brothers following this event, it is that they certainly know how to throw a party, and I plan to be a ticket-holding guest of any party thrown by these boys for the long haul!

]]>For children who want to be performers when they are older, it is common to sit and dream the day away, hoping that one day they will play for large crowds. It is typical to sit in an audience and envision themselves on that stage, showcasing their talents for everybody to see. However, the painstaking rule is that the dream often never becomes a reality. West Palm Beach native, Cassadee Pope, is the exception to that rule. As a child, Cassadee attended the South Florida Fair and watched her predecessors perform, hopeful, but never expectant, that she, too, would grace that stage one day. Last night, one of Cassadee’s childhood dreams came to fruition as she stood on that very stage, looking out, rather than looking in.

Cassadee, an artist who should not be pigeonholed into one specific genre of music, is a crossover hit in the flesh who needn’t be defined. What sets Cassadee apart from the rest is that her ability to float seamlessly throughout genres doesn’t impinge upon her audience’s ability to know exactly who she is … and that is a kind-hearted, gracious, talented singer/songwriter with a strong head on her shoulders and the world at her fingertips.

During her hometown show, Cassadee successfully covered all of her bases, ensuring that no one left disappointed or longing for their favorite song off her debut solo album, Frame By Frame. Cassadee entered the stage to a packed house as she began her set with “Proved You Wrong,” a song of empowerment and independence. The love, pride, and excitement emanating from Cassadee’s family, friends, and fans alike was insurmountable from the moment the first words, “cold as ice,” came through the speakers. Cassadee continued her set with “Cinematic,” a song that lends credence to her country and rock roots and is available on the deluxe version of her album.

Before slowing it down a bit, Cassadee, in a most endearing and sincere way, informed the crowd how excited she was to be at the South Florida Fair and admitted that she was nervous that nobody would actually show up for her. With all due respect, Cassadee could not have been more mistaken. The venue was filled, the energy was rampant, and the happiness radiating from the stage was contagious, even to those in the last row of the venue.

The set then continued with “Champagne,” “Easier to Lie” (my personal favorite off Frame By Frame), and “11.” Worth noting is that “11” is a song Cassadee penned about her family, and she dedicated this particular song to them as they sat in the audience. Cassadee explained that her family feels the impact of the song more each time they hear it, and you could witness from your seat that Cassadee’s own feelings she poured into the creation of the song have not been lost over time. Sharing that song with the family was incredibly special, as it felt like the room closed in for a short amount of time and a private moment was being shared by those fortunate enough to be present.

Photos by Sara Kauss / www.sarakaussmusicians.com

In a quick effort to shift the mood after that personal and emotional performance, Cassadee introduced her first solo single, “Wasting All These Tears,” which she deemed “monumental” to her career. Upon the first notes of the song being played by the band, the room expanded again and the energy picked up right where it left off as the entire audience sang along to this Top 10 Country Radio Airplay hit song. Before ending the song that is a current staple in country music, Cassadee briefly went into an acoustic line of “I wish I could erase all memory,” which was a creative way to differentiate between the recorded version of this song and a live performance.

Following her hit song, Cassadee performed “Everybody Sings,” a “party song” during which she danced around the stage, clearly having the time of her life. And Cassadee was certainly not alone, as her fans slowly, but surely, began creeping their way toward the front of the stage in droves, eventually surrounding her with signs, simple thumbs ups and waves, and cameras. And no sign went unnoticed, no thumbs up or wave went un-returned, and if Cassadee saw the camera, she was looking right into it. Every audience member who made an effort to be noticed was handed the opportunity by the appreciative singer, who commands and deserves respect.

Also of particular notability was Cassadee paying homage to one of her biggest influences, Shania Twain. Cassadee performed the crossover hit, “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” and did so in a way that changed my mind about this song that I have been not-so-impressed with since its 1998 release. Cassadee strode about the stage, triumphantly mixing adorable dance moves and personality with a distinct sassiness, while never compromising her “lovability.” In true “making it her own” fashion, Cassadee refused to say that Brad Pitt doesn’t impress her and, instead, practically squealed out “I think you’re hot!” which caused the audience to erupt into laughter.

Cassadee rounded out her set with additional tracks off Frame By Frame: “One Song Away,” “This Car,” and “You Hear a Song.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a Cassadee Pope set without ending on electrifying songs in order to ensure that the audience leaves happy and fulfilled. Cassadee urged the crowd to take its feet for “Good Times,” prompting the audience to “SCREAM!” as she made dancing across a huge stage while singing look like child’s play. Before segueing into her final song of the night (which we predict will likely be her sophomore single off her album), Cassadee expressed her gratitude to the audience once more, saying “you mean everything to me! Thank you for raising me and teaching me life’s lessons. And thank you for voting for me!” As Cassadee belted out “I Wish I Could Break Your Heart,” her fans danced and sang, devouring every note, knowing that the song was the last.

Photos by Sara Kauss / www.sarakaussmusicians.com

Cassadee Pope, though dubbed a “new artist” by the industry, is anything but. Besides her phenomenal vocals, Cassadee has a natural stage presence and ease about her while performing, which places her at the top with seasoned veterans in country music. As Cassadee continuously expressed her excitement to be performing on a stage at home, she also solidified the fact that any stage she performs on is her home.

Cassadee will be performing this Sunday, January 26, 2014, to a sold out crowd at South Florida’s Annual Chili Cookoff. Members of Cassadee’s Team Blake family, The Swon Brothers, will be performing on the same South Florida Fair stage on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, and tickets are still available now by clicking here.

]]>Arista recording artists, The Swon Brothers, have officially announced “Later On” as the debut single for their upcoming album. After playing it live, in a celebrated return performance to The Voice in December, the Team Blake finalists have been drumming up anticipation for this release.

The single shipped today to country radio stations and although, the official radio airplay date is set for March of this year; fans have been able to download the song from iTunes since December. Within 24 hours of its availability, listeners pushed “Later On” to #1 on iTunes’ Top Country Song charts!

The duo is pleased that the song is resonating with their fans as much as it does with themselves. Zack Swon was quoted as saying, “We are beyond blessed and excited to be releasing our very first single on Arista Nashville! We believe that with the love and support from our fans this song has big potential.”

“We’ve waited and prayed for this moment our whole lives and it’s finally here! We are more than ready to meet all the folks at country radio and want to say thank you in advance for welcoming your two new brothers to the family!” added by his brother, Colton Swon.

]]>Exactly eight months ago today, a sweet, Texas-born and raised sixteen-year-old named Danielle Bradbery performed Taylor Swift‘s “Mean” on NBC’s The Voice. Fast forward three months and Danielle Bradbery was a household name as Season Four’s champion from Team Blake, coached by country megastar, Blake Shelton. Danielle’s self-titled debut album with record label Big Machine Records hit stores and iTunes today, and fans will not be disappointed in the project they have been anticipating since Danielle was declared “The Voice.”

Danielle’s album — a fifteen-track disc with four popular covers, two previously recorded songs, and nine originals — offers fans a little bit of everything from the youngest winner of The Voice and Team Blake protege. Fans are already familiar with tracks 12-15, all songs performed by Danielle on live television during the competition. “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Born To Fly,” “Maybe It Was Memphis,” and “Who I Am” are some of Danielle’s fans’ favorite covers from The Voice, and are a throwback to Danielle’s music industry roots and a way to pay homage to where she came from.

Additionally, fans are also extremely familiar with Danielle’s Top 20 hit, “Heart of Dixie,” which showcases Danielle’s range and ability to emote in a song that most seventeen-year-olds would have difficulty identifying with and projecting. However, there is no doubt that Danielle possesses a sense of maturity (in this song, throughout her album, on stage, and in interviews) that allows her to conquer whatever she sets her mind to.

The first track on Danielle’s album, “Young In America,” was penned by Whitney Duncan, Jaren Johnston, and Kylie Sackley (all of whom have quite the impressive resumes). The song gives off an art imitating life feel, as Danielle sings about leaving her small town to see what is out there in the country. Danielle, a Texas girl who grew up in a small town, is certainly experiencing what it is like to escape such confines to see what else America has to offer (considering she has been on tour with the likes of Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley).

The album continues with “Wild Boy,” which was previously recorded by Maggie Sajak and written by Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Caitlyn Smith, and Troy Verges. The song captures the desire that many good girls have to tame and change that wild boy and finally get him to settle down. “He drives you senseless; leaves you defenseless” Danielle heartfully sings before the breakout chorus, which shows off her undeniable talent.

In the song that is my personal favorite on the album, “I’ll Never Forget You,” Danielle proves why she was crowned America’s favorite singer. The lyrics, the melody, the hook … writers Katrina Elam, Josh Kear, and Chris Tompkins hit it out of the park. Add in Danielle’s exceptional range, power, and stamina, and this song is a clear front runner as the most buzzworthy song on the album. In a portion of the song that makes you hold your breath as Danielle flawlessly belts and hits the highest of notes on the album, she sings “when I’m sleepin’, when I’m dreamin’, when I’m awake, I’ve got the feelin’ that I’ll never get you out of my mind.” And as you listen to the remainder of the album after this fourth song, you will not be able to get this vocal performance out of your minds.

The album continues with “Endless Summer,” “Talk About Love,” and “Never Like This,” which stick with the album’s theme of letting go, falling in love, and remembering the good times with the one you love. This trio of mid-album songs are age-appropriate, fun, light-hearted, and identifiable for anyone who has had a first love.

The eighth track on the album, “Daughter of a Working Man,” was written by Dave Barnes, Nicolle Galyon, and Clint Lagerberg, and is a song that Danielle was thrilled to receive. Danielle, being only seventeen, often has her father out on the road with her and clearly has a very special relationship with him. This song focuses on moving forward and experiencing changes, but never forgetting your roots. In the song, Danielle expresses that while she isn’t quite sure what is ahead of her, if she uses love as her compass, everything will work out. The song culminates in the single line “part of knowing where I’m going is knowing where I’m from.”

The ninth track is one that our followers are likely very familiar with at this point. Previously recorded by Emily Brooke, a young artist we have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know rather well, “Dance Hall” is about making the best of a situation with the one that you love. This sweet, soft track suggests that you can take what appears to be a dead end town and a boring night and turn it around into romance and fun.

Danielle’s original tracks come to an end with “Yellin’ From the Rooftop” and “My Day.” The first of the two, “Yellin’ From the Rooftop,” exudes a Laura Bell Bundy vibe out of the gate, but slows down ever-so-slightly, allowing Danielle to make her own mark on the song. After nine previous songs about falling in love, it only makes sense that by track ten, Danielle is yelling how much she loves her guy from the rooftop. And it can’t get much more appropriate than ending the original tracks with “My Day” on this very day, which is, in fact, Danielle’s day. Danielle sings “this is my day, this is my day, I won’t let it slip away,” and we encourage Danielle to hold on to this day with everything she has, because from our preview of the album, this day is going to change her life.

You can now pick up your copy of Danielle Bradbery in stores and on iTunes.

]]>Season Four The Voice champion, Danielle Bradbery of Team Blake, will be releasing her debut album, Danielle Bradbery, this Monday, November 25, 2013, just in time for the holidays. The album features Danielle’s debut single, which is climbing up the charts, Heart of Dixie.

The album includes several covers which Danielle performed on her season of The Voice, as well as many originals. Get ready to pick up your copy of Danielle Bradbery on Monday. It is a perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite country music fan!

]]>Season Four The Voice champion, Danielle Bradbery, has completed her self-titled debut album, and Danielle Bradbery is now available for pre-order on iTunes. Danielle’s fifteen track debut project will be released on November 25, 2013, just in time for the holidays. The following is the track list for the album:

1 Young In America
2 Wild Boy
3 The Heart of Dixie
4 I Will Never Forget You
5 Endless Summer
6 Talk About Love
7 Never Like This
8 Daughter of a Workin’ Man
9 Dance Hall
10 Yellin’ From the Rooftop
11 My Day
12 Jesus Take the Wheel
13 Born To Fly
14 Maybe It Was Memphis
15 Who I Am

The album includes several covers which Danielle performed on her season of The Voice, a song that was previously recorded by up and coming superstar, Emily Brooke, and many originals as well. We can’t wait to hear Danielle’s album, as she carries on the Team Blake tradition seamlessly.

1) You can tweet us once stating why you deserve to win using the tag #ChasersGiveawayKIC.
2) Your “follower count” will not affect your chances of winning. (0 or 1 million followers, your chances are all equal).
3) You may only win this contest ONCE. If you win a prize package this week, you are no longer eligible to win a Brandon Chase package in future weeks.

Disqualification: You will be disqualified if:

1) You spam your entry.

The winner will be chosen internally by Keepin’ It Country (@KeepinitBlog) and The Chase Crew (@Chase_Crew) & take all of the above factors into consideration.

]]>Last week, America was introduced to Brandon Chase, a rising country singer from Arlington, Texas who was picked by Blake Shelton on NBC’s The Voice. We’re pretty excited to say “We knew him first” when it comes to Brandon, as we discovered him earlier this year and spoke to him about his musical aspirations. He even appeared on our StageIt and world premiered a song called “Miracle” for the fans watching live.

Having worked with Brandon, we were thrilled to discover he was going to be appearing on The Voice. In addition to being an incredible talent, he’s also one of the nicest people we’ve ever had the chance to speak with. Luckily, we were able to chat with him again after his first appearance on The Voice.

If you missed Brandon’s appearance, he sang “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes, a song he’s done many times before. “’Wanted’ is a song I’ve been doing for quite a while since it came out…and everyone’s always loved it. It’s such a great song, and the lyrics are awesome. It makes you feel good, and it’s a song I can relate to and come across as genuine.” Brandon says. “Those lyrics are truly what I want to do with my music, to make people feel wanted and special, because they are.”

Blake was first to turn around during the performance, followed shortly after by CeeLo. Brandon admitted that he was a little shocked to turn CeeLo’s chair, expecting him to be the last one to turn around. However, Brandon admits that although he kept an open mind, Blake was always his first choice. “I was kind of always planning on picking Blake. He was my first choice from the very beginning.” Brandon admits. “Ultimately, Blake, him saying that I’m a true country artist and that it runs in my blood was just confirmation for me and there was really nothing CeeLo could do to say or top that. I had to go with Blake.”

Out of curiosity, we asked Brandon who’d he have chosen had Blake not turned around, but the other judges had. The answer is a no-brainer for the guitar-playing, singer-songwriter: Adam. “He’s a great musician. I really respect artists that are extremely talented at their instrument and Adam is also a fantastic guitar player. He writes, sings and play an instrument. He’s just what I aspires to be like.”

If he makes it past the show’s Battle rounds, Brandon says he’s definitely willing to branch away from just country songs, as long as he can make the songs his own. “I listen to everything and I respect music and songwriters. I love covering all different kinds of songs, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know who I am as an artist.” Brandon says, “There are so many great songs out there and it’s fun to do something out of your element and put your own on a spin on it.”

As a songwriter, Brandon says he’d love to perform an original if the show allowed it. He tells us that he’d probably choose “Lemonade Sunday,” “Most Beautiful Thing” or a brand new song he’s excited about.

Since his first audition aired, Brandon has been overwhelmed by the response from the fans. “So many things have shocked me. Pretty much everything since Monday night when the show aired has been unreal. Having my name talked about on the big radio stations in my hometown…I got my first newspaper page…”

Brandon says he’s most excited about the overwhelming response from the fans who are so excited for him, and that he’s having a blast talking to them. He said that he would encourage his fans to pursue their dreams just like he has. “My message to the fans, besides just a thank you for accepting me so graciously and supporting me, my message would just be to chase your dreams,” Says Brandon. “That’s exactly what I’m doing and anyone else can do that as well. As long as you put your heart into whatever you believe in and work hard at it and give it everything you have, you can succeed. You have no other option but to succeed.”

As for the most common question that Brandon fans wanted us to ask. We’ve got an answer for you, and he told us that the question makes him blush every time. “I am single,” Brandon tells us. “But I’m definitely, at the moment, totally devoted to my music and it’s really the focus of my life at this point.”

We’d like to thank Brandon for taking the time to talk to us, and wish him the best on his journey on The Voice. For more info, you can follow him on Twitter at @brandonjchase or visit his official site.